Shade is a hard thing to plan for. Trees that were relatively young when your lawn was planted often grow to become incredible sun blockers. Or you may have made your lawn-care plan in the winter, when the trees surrounding your yard were bare of leaves, not realizing that in season they were going to create dense dark areas inhospitable to grass growth.

Areas of deep or persistent shade call for a change in lawn-care tactics. The challenge is changing the way you care for one small area of lawn, while maintaining the proper maintenance for the rest of the yard. That can be a bit of bother, but if you’re going to keep shaded grass healthy, you need to make adjustments.

How to Prune a Shade Tree

Start by undercutting from beneath the limb with your bow saw or chain saw.

This keeps the bark from tearing when the limb breaks loose.

Trim the stub from the limb so it’s flush with the branch collar, but do not cut the collar, which is responsible for healing the wound.

An electric alligator lopper makes quick work of fallen tree branches. Remove branches quickly; if they’re allowed to sit on the lawn too long they can kill the grass underneath and spread diseases.

What You'll Need

Tools

Important safety information

To reduce the risk of personal injury and property damage, read and follow all related product manufacturers instruction manuals and information before performing any of the applications shown. Some construction-related applications shown may not be allowed in your local area. Consult your local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) before starting work for information on permits, applicable codes, and other regulations. Black & Decker disclaims any responsibility for any damage to property or injury to persons as a result of misuse of the information provided.

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